Cricket

Despite Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) disappointing exit from the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa and Australian all-rounder Shane Watson believe that MS Dhoni will return to the tournament next season.Dhoni, who played through a knee injury, showcased impressive form throughout the season, scoring 161 runs at an average of 53.66 and a strike rate of 220.54. However, his efforts were not enough to secure a playoff spot for CSK, as they lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a crucial game.Uthappa expressed his confidence in Dhoni's return, stating, "I don't think we have seen the last of MS. He is not someone who takes these things lightly. He will come back roaring for sure." He also shed light on Dhoni's injury, explaining that the veteran cricketer had been managing a calf injury that was more serious than initially thought.Watson echoed Uthappa's sentiments, expressing his hope to see Dhoni continue in the IPL for at least another one or two years. "He batted beautifully again. There is no doubt that he can fulfill a very important role for CSK, even if it's coming in and facing 13-15 balls each game and doing this. He played incredibly well. Fingers crossed, MSD can roll out again for at least one or two more years, fulfilling this role which is a little less demanding physically on him anyway," Watson said.Dhoni's commitment was evident in his last match, where he played a valiant knock of 25 off 13 deliveries, falling in the final over of the chase. His ability to adapt and still contribute significantly underlines his importance to the team.Dhoni had stepped down as CSK captain ahead of the 2024 season, handing over the reins to Ruturaj Gaikwad after leading the team to five IPL titles. His presence, both on and off the field, continues to be a cornerstone for CSK, and fans, along with cricketing greats, are hopeful to see him in action again next season.

Chennai Super Kings' bowling consultant, Eric Simons, has heaped praise on the team's legendary captain, MS Dhoni, following their exit from the IPL 2023 playoffs. Despite CSK's title defense ending with a 27-run loss to Royal Challengers Bangalore, Simons highlighted Dhoni's enduring qualities and the impact he continues to have on the team.Having worked closely with Dhoni during his tenure as India's bowling consultant in 2010, Simons emphasized the simplicity and clarity with which Dhoni approaches the game. He believes that this is a trait that all cricketers should strive to emulate. Simons also lauded Dhoni's ability to instill self-belief in his teammates and his knack for guiding the team out of challenging situations."There are countless memories of MS Dhoni, the innings he plays that get you out of trouble," Simons said. "I was in the dugout and said it was incredible that we were in a situation with our backs against the wall and he was at the wicket. You just don't stop believing he can win for you. So I think that's one of the things he brings to the group: incredible self-belief."Regarding the speculation surrounding Dhoni's future, Simons believes it is premature and unnecessary. He emphasized that Dhoni is the only one who knows what his plans are and that he is still playing at a high level."I think anybody who wants to speculate about his future is crazy," Simons said. "MS knows what he's going to do. I know that this year I've seen him hit the ball from the pre-tournament camp. So he's playing extremely well and he'll make the decision. But he's a fantastic guy to be around."Simons also praised Dhoni's understanding of the game and his ability to convey it to his teammates in a simple and effective manner. He believes that this is one of Dhoni's greatest strengths as a leader."He has been fantastic to witness from the days I was with India and now with CSK," Simons said. "He's an incredible cricketer and an incredible individual in terms of his understanding of cricket and life. I think in many ways that what he passes on to guys is the incredible self-belief, never say die, and a simple understanding of the game of cricket. He can put it in simple words, and I think that's one of the best things about him."As for the upcoming Eliminator clash, RCB's opponent will be determined by the results of the matches between Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders, and Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have defied all odds to qualify for the playoffs of IPL 2024, despite a dismal start to their campaign. After losing seven of their first eight games, RCB have staged a remarkable turnaround, winning their last six matches.Their most crucial victory came on Saturday night against five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK). A video of Virat Kohli's motivational speech to a group of youngsters has gone viral, in which he emphasized the importance of believing in even a one percent chance.Kohli's words have proven prophetic for RCB, as they have clawed their way back into contention. Kohli himself has been instrumental in their resurgence, leading the league in runs scored with a staggering 708 in 14 innings.In their match against CSK, RCB posted a competitive 218 for 5 on a challenging track. Skipper Faf du Plessis led the way with a 39-ball 54. The hosts then restricted CSK to 191 for 7, securing a 27-run victory.However, CSK could have still qualified for the playoffs if they had reached the 201-run mark. But RCB paceman Yash Dayal held his nerve in the final over to deny the five-time champions.RCB's victory propelled them to 14 points, level with CSK. However, RCB's superior net run rate earned them the fourth spot in the standings.The top four teams at the end of the league stage qualify for the playoffs. Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals, and Sunrisers Hyderabad have already secured their spots. RCB's qualification is a testament to their resilience and determination.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 playoffs race has taken a decisive turn with SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) becoming the third team to secure a spot in the top four. The Pat Cummins-led side reached 15 points in 13 games after their match against Gujarat Titans was washed out due to rain in Hyderabad.With three spots already sealed, the battle for the final playoff berth intensifies among Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Out of the three, CSK and RCB are the frontrunners, while LSG's chances are slim.Chennai Super Kings (CSK)CSK, led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, is in a strong position to grab the fourth playoff spot. A win against RCB on Saturday will guarantee their qualification. If Rajasthan Royals (RR) and SRH lose their last matches against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) respectively, CSK could even finish in the top two with a superior Net Run Rate (NRR).However, CSK can also advance even if they lose to RCB. To do so, they must ensure that the losing margin is not significant, allowing their NRR to remain better than RCB's.Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)RCB, captained by Faf du Plessis, needs to win their last game against CSK to have a chance at the final playoff spot. Moreover, they must win by a substantial margin to ensure their run-rate remains above CSK's.Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)LSG, led by KL Rahul, faces an improbable scenario. Their only hope of qualifying is to win their last match against Mumbai Indians (MI) by a massive margin. Additionally, RCB must beat CSK but not by a significant margin. This would allow LSG to potentially improve their NRR and finish above RCB and CSK. However, this scenario is highly unlikely.Delhi Capitals (DC)DC, with 14 points in 14 matches, is out of the playoff race as they have no more matches left. Their NRR of -0.377 is also not favorable.

The Chennai Super Kings (CSK), under the leadership of Ruturaj Gaikwad, face a crucial challenge as they aim to secure a spot in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 playoffs. Currently placed third in the points table with 14 points, CSK's fate rests in their own hands. However, their upcoming match against a resurgent Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) side, who have won five consecutive games, poses a significant hurdle.A victory against RCB would guarantee CSK's progression to the playoffs. However, a defeat could potentially jeopardize their chances. If CSK loses by 18 runs or more, or concedes defeat with 11 balls remaining while chasing a target of 201 runs, RCB would overtake them in the standings.In such a scenario, CSK's fate would depend on the outcome of Sunrisers Hyderabad's (SRH) remaining matches. If SRH loses both their games, CSK would qualify for the playoffs based on a superior Net Run Rate (NRR). However, if SRH wins even one of their matches, CSK would be eliminated.CSK's path to the playoffs is further complicated by the presence of other contenders, including Delhi Capitals (DC) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). While DC and LSG remain in mathematical contention, the playoffs battle is primarily between SRH, CSK, and RCB.To avoid missing out on a playoff spot, CSK must avoid a heavy defeat against RCB and hope that SRH loses both their remaining matches. If these conditions are met, CSK will secure a top-four finish and advance to the next stage of the tournament.

MS Dhoni's IPL Future: Hussey Hopes for 'Another Couple of Years'Michael Hussey, Chennai Super Kings' batting coach, remains uncertain about MS Dhoni's future in the Indian Premier League (IPL) but expresses his desire for the legendary wicketkeeper-batter to continue for a few more seasons."Your guess is as good as mine at this stage," Hussey said on ESPN's Around the Wicket show. "He keeps his cards very close to his chest. We are hoping he does keep going."Despite undergoing knee surgery after the previous IPL season, Dhoni has been in impressive form this year, scoring 136 runs in ten innings at a strike rate of 226.66. Hussey attributes this to Dhoni's meticulous preparation and ability to hit the ball cleanly from the first delivery."He is still batting so well. He does prepare well - he gets into the camp very early and hits a lot of balls," Hussey said. "He has been in good touch all season really."However, CSK has been managing Dhoni's workload due to his knee surgery, often sending him in to bat at lower positions. Hussey acknowledges that fans may prefer to see Dhoni bat higher in the order, but emphasizes the need to protect his body."I know fans probably want to see him batting a little bit higher in the order," Hussey said, "but that [the knee surgery] is why we have had to manage him a little bit and he only comes in at the back end."At the start of the season, Dhoni surprised many by handing over the captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad. Hussey reveals that Dhoni's decision was not entirely unexpected, as Gaikwad had been groomed for the role for some time."MS sort of announced that he was not going to be attending the pre-tournament captains meeting. And we're like, 'Oh, no. What's going on?'," Hussey said. "He said Ruturaj was going to be captain from then on. So it was a little bit of a shock to start with but it has been managed really well."Under Gaikwad's leadership, CSK has won seven out of 13 games and is currently third on the points table. Gaikwad himself has been a key contributor with the bat, scoring 583 runs at a strike rate of 141.50."He is a great guy, Ruturaj, very calm," Hussey said. "He is a good thinker of the game. I mean it was always going to be a massive challenge for him, you know, how do you follow someone like MS Dhoni - it was going to be tough. But he has done a great job."Hussey believes that Gaikwad will continue to improve as captain and that his batting has not been affected by the added responsibility.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 playoffs race is heating up, with five teams vying for the remaining two spots. Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals have already secured their berths, leaving Chennai Super Kings, SunRisers Hyderabad, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in contention.However, the battle is effectively between three teams, as Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants trail behind in net run rate. LSG's hopes took a significant blow with their loss to Delhi Capitals, making their playoff qualification highly unlikely.Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif criticized Lucknow's decision to bowl first after winning the toss in Delhi. "They didn't go with any numbers. 200 has not been chased here at all," Kaif said. "The biggest mistake was the decision at the toss... There will be a question mark on the bowling as well."Aakash Chopra echoed Kaif's sentiments, questioning Lucknow's batting approach. "Quinton de Kock's bat is not striking the ball, and KL Rahul got out for five," Chopra said. "What are you doing?"Rahul's poor form has been a concern, and he was omitted from India's squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup. Chennai Super Kings, SunRisers Hyderabad, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru are now the frontrunners for the remaining playoff spots. CSK has a slight edge in net run rate, but SRH and RCB have been in impressive form lately.The final round of matches will determine the fate of the playoff contenders. CSK faces Punjab Kings, SRH takes on Gujarat Titans, and RCB battles Delhi Capitals. The teams will be desperate to secure victories and boost their chances of reaching the knockout stage.

MS Dhoni's immense popularity in the cricket world is undeniable. His presence on the field electrifies the atmosphere, with every stroke of his bat met with thunderous applause and chants of adoration. Former CSK teammate Ambati Rayudu believes that Chennai Super Kings fans are primarily Dhoni fans, stating that even when other players hit boundaries, the crowd remains silent.In a crucial match against the Rajasthan Royals, the Chennai Super Kings emerged victorious, keeping their playoff hopes alive. The Yellow Brigade secured a commanding five-wicket win, propelling them to third place in the points table.Post-match, emotions ran high at the MA Chidambaram Stadium as fans witnessed the heartwarming reunion between Dhoni and Suresh Raina, known as 'Chinna Thala' to supporters. CSK celebrated their triumph with a lap around the stadium, during which Dhoni and Raina distributed tennis balls as memorabilia.Despite being the defending champions, CSK's playoff berth is still uncertain, adding an element of suspense to their campaign. The team's final group fixture at their Chennai stronghold will determine their fate in the tournament.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the legendary cricketer, has forged an unbreakable bond with Chennai and the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Since leading CSK to their inaugural IPL title in 2008, Dhoni has become an icon in the city, guiding the team to a record-equaling five championships.As rumors swirl that IPL 2024 could be Dhoni's final season, fans have flocked to stadiums to witness his every move. The roar of the crowd reaches deafening levels whenever he steps up to bat, a testament to his enduring popularity.Former India cricketer Ambati Rayudu has hailed Dhoni as the "God of Chennai," predicting that temples will be built in his honor in the future. "He is someone who brought India the joy of two World Cups and has brought Chennai joy with a lot of IPL and Champions League titles," Rayudu said. "He has just been that one guy who shows belief in his players, who has always done it for the team, for the country, and for CSK."Dhoni's leadership and unwavering commitment to CSK have earned him immense respect and admiration. He has fostered a culture of unity and success within the team, inspiring his players to perform at their best.With CSK's playoff hopes hanging in the balance, Dhoni's presence on the field is more crucial than ever. A victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 18 would virtually guarantee their spot in the Top 4 of the competition.As the IPL season draws to a close, fans are cherishing every opportunity to witness Dhoni's brilliance. His legacy in Chennai and the IPL will undoubtedly endure long after he retires from the game.